Sheet holder



Oct. 9, 1951 B. K. SLONNEGER SHEET HOLDER Filed Nov. 2, 1 948 3nveutor BRUCE K. SLONNEGER DATE HIS attorney Patented Oct. 9, 1951 UNlTED STATES PATENT OEHCE SHEET HOLDER Bruce K. Slonneger, Dayton, Ohio Application November 2, 1948, Serial No. 57,845

21 Claims.

This invention relates to a sheet holder adapted to receive a plurality, or pile, of superposed individually removable sheets, such as sales slips or the like. Other holders of this general type are shown in the patent to Bruce K. Slonneger and Clifford S. Slonneger No. 2,526,090 issued October 17, 1950, and in the pending application of Bruce K. Slonneger filed September 16, 1948, Serial Number 49,569.

One object of the invention is to provide a sheet holder having separately controlled openings through which unused sheets and used sheets, respectively, may be inserted in and removed from the holder.

A further object of the invention is to provide a receptacle having upper and lower openings through which the sheets may be inserted and removed, and having slidable closures for the respective openings. T

A further object of the invention is to provide a sheet holder having separate means for re taining the unused and the used sheets in their respective parts of the holder.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide a sheet holder having means for supporting a transfer sheet separately from and in operative relation to the uppermostsheet of the pile of unused sheets.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sheet holder in which the ends of the unused sheets are accessible for separation and individual removal.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a sheet holder in which the lower closure is adapted to support an information sheet in an accessible position while the upper closure is in sheet supporting position.

Other objects of the invention the device is described in detail.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of a sheet holder embodying the invention, partly broken away and with the lower closure in its open position; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the holder with the upper closure in its open position; Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken through a portion of the holder on the line 44 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one end of a slightly modified form of the holder.

In these drawings I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention but it is to be understood that the sheet holder as a whole, as well as the several parts thereof, may take various forms and may be assembled in various may appear as 2 ways without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the embodiment here illustrated the holder is in the nature of a receptacle comprising upright side walls It! and H and end walls [2 and 13. The top and bottom walls l4 and [5 constitute movable closures for the receptacle. These closures are slidably mounted on the side walls of the receptacle and in the present arrangement the side walls are provided at their upper and lower edges with outturned upper and lower flanges l6 and each closure has its lateral edge portions bent upon themselves to provide .channels I? which embrace the respective flanges l6 and slidably support the closure thereon. The interior of the receptacle is divided into upper and lower compartments [9 and 20 and a pile of unused sheets 2! is inserted through the top opening into the upper compartment and used sheets 22 are inserted through the bottom opening into the lower compartment. The means for dividing the receptacle into two compartments may be of any suitable character and in the form here shown it includes means for retaining the sheets in their respective compartments.

Relatively narrow transverse members 23 and 26 extend inwardly from the front end wall l2, and are here shown as formed integral with that end wall, the upper member 23 extending above and being in engagement with the upper edges of the side walls It and H and the lower member 24 extending below and being in engagement with the lower edges of the side walls. Means are provided for pressing the end portions of the pile of unused sheets against the upper transverse member 23 and for pressing the end portions of the unused sheets against the lower transverse member 2d and thus removably retaining the sheets in their respective compartments. The means for pressing the sheets against, the transverse members are, in the present instance, parts of the device which divides the receptacle into upper and lower compartments. As here shown that device comprises a relatively narrow strip of resilient material 25 of a length slightly less than the length of the receptacle and the forward portion 26 of this member is inclined downwardly and overlies the transverse member 24. Rigidly connected with the member 25 between the ends of the latter is a plate 27 preferably of a'width approximating the width of the sheets, which is inclined upwardly and forwardly, with its forward end in contact with the end portion of the bottom sheet of the pile of unused sheetsbelow the member,

23. Thus the diverging resilient members 26 and 21 tend to move in opposite directions and to press the end portions of the sheets in the respective compartments against the corresponding transverse members 23 and '24. When the receptacle is first filled with unused sheets the lower member 26 will be in contact with the transverse member 24, and the upper member 21 will be in contact with the lowest sheet and will be deflected to its lowermost position. As the unused sheets are withdrawn from the upper compartment the end portion of the member 2'! moves upwardly, and as the used sheets are inserted in the lower compartment, between the resilient member 26 and the transverse member 24, the end portion of the member 26 moves upwardly. Thus it could be apparent that as the supply of unused sheets decreases the available space for used sheets in the lower compartment increases.

The sheets may be of any suitable character and are preferably of a length and width slightly less than the length and width of the receptacle so as to permit the free vertical movement of the sheets. In the form here shown the several sheets of the pile of sheets are separate one from the other and may be withdrawn bodily from the receptacle. In Fig. 1 the top closure is in its closed or sheet supporting position and the free end portion of the uppermost unused sheet has been withdrawn from the receptacle and rests on the closure, which supports the same so that entries may be written thereon. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3 each sheet comprises upper and lower portions or leaves, the lower leaf 28 extending for the full length of the sheet and the upper leaf 29 having its forward end spaced such a distance from the forward end of the lower leaf that said end is also spaced rearwardly from the inner edge of the upper transverse member 23. A. sheet of transfer material, such as carbon paper, is interposed between the upper and lower leaves of the sheet so that the record written on the upper leaf will be transferred to the lower leaf of the sheet. The transfer sheet may, if desired, be permanently connected with the sheet and interposed between the upper and lower leaves thereof or the transfer material may be applied to the back of the upper leaf, in a well known manner, but preferably the transfer sheet is supported separately from the record sheet and is shown at 30 as secured to the upper transverse member 23 and e..- tending rearwardly therefrom between the upper and lower leaves of the withdrawn sheet. The means for connecting the transfer sheet with the receptacle may take various forms and in the present arrangement an attaching device is supported above the upper transverse member 23 and is adapted to engage and firmly secure the transfer sheet when the end portion thereof has been interposed between the attaching device and the transverse member 23. The attaching device is movable to permit the sheet to be interposed between the same and the transverse member and to then grip the sheet. It is here shown as a transverse member 3i superposed on the transverse member 23 and having its end portions bent downwardly and inwardly to form channels 32 which embrace the ends of the member 23 and the flanges I6 on the side walls [El and H and are slidable thereon. Thus by moving the member 3| rearwardly the end portion of the transfer sheet may be inserted between the same and the member 23 and the forward movement of the member 3! will bring the same into gripping engagement with the transfer sheet. The. members 3| and 23 are maintained in close relation one to the other so that they have sufiicient gripping action on the end portion of the transfer sheet to prevent the accidental withdrawal thereof. Preferably the member Si is of such width that when in sheet gripping position'it extends rearwardly a short distance beyond the rear edge of the transverse member 23.

When not in use the holder is closed, both closures being in their foremost positions. When a record is to be made the top closure is moved rearwardly such a distance that the free end of the uppermost sheet of the pile of unused sheets may be withdrawn from beneath the closure, as by pressing with a finger on the sheet to buckle the same, as shown in Fig. 3. The closure is then moved to its closed position beneath the withdrawn sheet, the forward end of which is still retained in the receptacle. The transfer sheet will, of course, be withdrawn from the receptacle along with the upper unused sheet and if the transfer sheet is not already between the two leaves of the Withdrawn record sheet it is inserted between those leaves and the record is written on the record sheet. moved to sheet supporting position the forwar.

edge portion thereof is moved beneath the rear edge portion of the member 3i which, as above stated, projects beyond the transverse member 23. Thus the transfer sheet and the lower leaf of the withdrawn sheet are bent over the end edge of the closure so that they lie flat on the latter and buckling of the transfer sheet is prevented. While the top closure is in sheet supporting position the bottom closure may be moved toits open position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and this bottom closure is provided with means whereby an information or data sheet may be supported on the upper or inner surface thereof, so that the information thereon will be available to the operator while making his entries on the record sheet. With a bottom closure of the type here shown the data sheet 38 may be inserted in the channels at the lateral edges of the bottom closure and may be of sufficient stiffness to be retained therein without the use of attaching devices. The data sheet when so inserted does not interfere with the sliding movement of the closure.

The forward movement of the top and bottom closures are limited by the contact thereof, respectively, with the transverse members '23 and 2 3, which being in contact with the side walls lie in the planes of movement of the respective closures. Any suitable means may be provided for preventing either or both the closures from being completely withdrawn from the receptacle. As here shown short stops are provided adjacent the rear end wall l3 of the receptacle and are arranged in the paths of other stops carried by the respective closures adjacent the forward ends thereof. For this purpose a plate 33, U-shaped in cross section, is secured in the receptacle by having its upright member rigidly secured to the end wall 13, as by spot welding. The forwardly extending portions 34, or legs, of the U-shaped member lie close to or in contact with the inner surfaces of the respective closures. Preferably the U-shaped member is of a length substantially less than the length of the end wall and is arranged adjacent the center thereof. Stops 35 and 36, preferably of thin material, are secured to the inner surfaces of the respective closures adjacent the forward ends thereof and are preferably spaced substantial distances from the lateral edges of the closures and in line with correspond- When the top closure is.

ing stops 34 at the rear end of the receptacle. Thus when either closure is moved to its open position the stop' thereon will engage the correspondingstop 34 and the further movement of the closure will be prevented. However, if it is desired to completely remove either closure this can be accomplished by flexing the central portion of the forward end of the closure so that the stop thereon will be moved out-of line with corresponding stop 34 and can be moved past the same.

In Fig. 5 there is shown a slightlvmodified form of the holder which is of such a character that the end edges of the sheets are accessible for engagement by the fingers of the operator to separate and remove the same. With the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 3 the ends of the unused sheets are not accessible and they can be removed only by exerting a pull thereon. The holder in Fig. 5 is of the same construction as that shown in the other figures with the exception that the carbon gripping member 3| has been omitted and adjacent portions of the end wall 12 and the transverse member 23 have been cut away to provide an opening 31 at one corner of the pile of unused sheets thus exposing the end edges of the sheets for engagement by the finger of the operator and facilitating the removal thereof.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, together with a minor modification thereof, I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifications may occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having now fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a sheet holder, a receptacle comprising a body having top and bottom openings through which sheets may be inserted in and removed from the upper and lower portions of said body,

means carried by said receptacle to support one end portion of a pile of sheets in the upper portion of said receptacle and to removably retain the individual sheets in said pile of sheets, said receptacle having a closure for said top opening sup-ported on said body for movement from a normally closed position to permit access to the upper portion of the interior of said receptacle and also having a closure for said bottom opening supported on said'body for movement from a normally closed position to an open position to permit access to the interior of the lower portion of said receptacle.

2. In a sheet holder, a receptacle comprising a body having top and bottom openings through which sheets may be inserted in and removed from the upper and lower portions of said body, means carried by said receptacle to support one end portion of a pile of sheets in the upper portion of said receptacle and to removably retain the individual sheets in said pile of sheets, said receptacle having a closure for said top opening which is substantially co-extensive with the top of said body and is supported on said body for movement from a normally closed position above said pile of sheets to an open position to permit the free end portion of the uppermost sheet of said pile of sheets to be withdrawn from said receptacle, and for movement to a supporting position beneath the withdrawn portion of said sheet, said receptacle also having a closure for said bottom opening which is supported on said body for movement from a normally closed position to an open position to permit a sheet to be inserted in the lower portion of said receptacle.

' 3. Ina sheet holder, a receptacle comprising a body having top and bottom openings through which sheets may be inserted in and removed from the upper and lower portions of said body, means carried by said receptacle to support one end portion of a pile of sheets in the upper portion of said receptacle and to removably retain the individual sheets in said pile of sheets, said receptacle having a closure for said top opening which is substantially co-extensive with the top of said body and is supported on said body for movement from a normally closed position above said pile of sheets to an open position to permit the free end portion of the uppermost sheet of said pile of sheets to be withdrawn from. said receptacle, and for movement to a supporting position beneath the withdrawn portion of said sheet, said receptacle also having a closure for said bottom opening which is supported on said body for movement from a normally closed position to an open position to permit a sheet to be inserted in the lower portion of said receptacle, and means carried by said body for removably retaining said sheet in the lower portion of said receptacle when said bottom closure is in an open position.

4. In a sheet holder, a receptacle comprising a body having top and bottom openings through which sheets may be inserted in and removed from the upper and lower portions of said body,

means carried by said receptacle to support one end portion of a pile of sheets in the upper portion of'said receptacle and to removably retain the individual sheets in said pile of sheets, said receptacle having a closure for said top opening which is substantially co-extensive with the top of said body and is supported on said body for movement from a normally closed position above said pile of sheets to an open position to permit the free end portion of the uppermost sheet of said pile of sheets to be withdrawn from said receptacle, and for movement to a supporting position beneath the withdrawn portion of said sheet, said receptacle also having a closure for said bottom'opening which is movably supported on .said body for movement from a normally closed position to an open position to permit a sheet to be inserted in the lower portion of said receptacle, said bottom closure having means for supporting a data sheet on the upper surface thereof.

5. A sheet holder comprising a shallow receptacle including a body portion adapted to receive a pile of sheets, and having top and bottom openings through which sheets may be inserted in and removed from the same, means for engaging one end only of said pile of sheets to retain the pile in the upper portion of said receptacle and to removably retain the individual sheets in said pile, a top closure slidably supported on said body portion for movement to a position which permits the free end portion of,

the uppermost sheet of said pile to be withdrawn from said receptacle and for movement to a position beneath the withdrawn sheet, and a bottom closure slidably supported on said body portion for movement to a position which permits the used sheet to be inserted in the lower portion of said receptacle.

6. A sheet holder comprising a shallow receptacle including a body portion adapted to receive a pile of sheets, and having top and bottom openings through which sheets may be inserted in and removed from the same, means for 'engaging one end only of said pile of sheets to retain the pile in the upper portion of said receptacle and to removably retain the individual sheets in said pile, a top closure slidably supported on said body portion for movement to a position which permits the free end portion of the uppermost sheet of said pile to be withdrawn from said receptacle and for movement to a position beneath the withdrawn sheet, a bottom closure slidably supported on said body portion for movement to a position which permits a used sheet to be inserted in the lower portion of said receptacle, and means in said body portion for retaining said used sheet therein.

7. A sheet holder comprising a shallow receptacle including a body portion adapted to receive a pile of sheets and having top and bottom openings through which sheets may be inserted in and removed from the same, said body portion also having adjacent one end thereof a transverse member to extend above the end portions of the sheets inserted in the upper part of said body portion and a second transverse member to extend beneath the end portions of the sheets in the lower part of said body portion, means dividing the interior of said body portion into upper and lower parts and including devices cooperating with the respective transverse members to retain said sheets in the respective parts of said body portion, and separately movable closures for said top and bottom openings.

8. A sheet holder comprising a shallow receptacle including a body portion adapted to receive a pile of sheets and having top and bottom openings through which sheets may be inserted in and removed from the same, said body portion also having adjacent one end thereof a transverse member to extend above the end portions of the sheets inserted in the upper part of said body portion and a second transverse member to extend beneath the end portions of the sheets in the lower part of said body member and yieldable devices supported in opposed relation to and cooperating with the respective transverse members to removably retain said sheets in the respective parts of said body portion, and sep-' arately movable closures for said top and bottom openings.

9. A sheet holder comprising a shallow receptacle including a body portion adapted to receive a pile of sheets and having top and bottom openings through which sheets may be inserted in and removed from the same, said body portion also having adjacent one end thereof a transverse member to extend above the end portions of the sheets inserted in the upper part of said body portion and a second transverse member to extend beneath the end portions of the sheets in the lower part of said body member, a member dividing the interior of said body portion into upper and lower compartments and having diverging resilient parts cooperating with the respective transverse members to removably retain said sheets in the respective compartments, and top and bottom closures slidably supported for movement toward and from the respective transverse members.

10. In a sheet holder comprising a shallow receptacle adapted to receive a plurality of superposed sheets and including side and end walls, means for retaining said sheets in said receptacle including relatively narrow transverse members "moved out of line with the respective last mencow secured to one of said end walls and extending inwardly, respectively, above and below the upper and lower edges of said side walls to engage the end portions of the upper and lower sheets, and bottom and top closures slidably supported on said side walls for movement toward and from the inwardly extending members and having an abutting engagement with the respective inward- 1y extending members when in their fully closed positions.

11. In a sheet holder comprising a shallow receptacle adapted to receive a plurality of superposed sheets and including side and end walls, means for retaining said sheets in said receptacle including relatively narrow transverse members secured to one of said end walls and extending inwardly, respectively, above and below the upper and lower edges of said side walls to engage the end portions of the upper and lower sheets, bottom and top closures slidably supported on said side walls for movement toward and from the inwardly extending members and having an abutting engagement with the respective inwardly extending members when in their fully closed positions, relatively narrow transverse members extending inwardly from the upper and lower portions of the other of said end walls close to said top and bottom closures, respectively, and stops secured to said top and bottom closures and arranged to engage the respective last mentioned transverse members and limit the outward movements of said closures.

12. A sheet holder comprising a shallow receptacle adapted to receive a plurality of superposed sheets and including side and end walls, means for retaining said sheets in said receptacle including relativel narrow transverse members secured to one of said end walls and extending inwardly, respectively, above and below the upper and lower edges of said side walls to engage the end portions of the upper and lower sheets, bottom and top closures slidably mounted on said side walls for movement toward and from said inwardly extending members and having abutting engagement with the respective inwardly extending members when in their fully closed positions, relatively narrow transverse members extending inwardly from the upper and lower portions of the other of said end walls close to said top and bottom wall closures, respectively, and stops -secured to said top and bottom closures, spaced from the lateral edges thereof and arranged to engage the respective transverse members and limit the outward movement of said closures, said stops being of such thickness that they may be tioned transverse members by flexing the end portions of the respective closures.

13. A sheet holder comprising a shallow receptacle adapted to receive a pile of sheets and in cluding side and end walls, closures slidably sup ported on said side walls, a stop member extending inwardly from one of said end walls adjacent one of said closures, and a second stop member on the inner side of one of said closures adjacent one end of the latter, spaced from the lateral edges thereof and in line with the first mentioned stop member to engage the latter and limit the outward movement of said closure, said second stop member being movable out of line with said first mentioned stop member by flexing the end portion of said closure.

14. A sheet holder comprising a receptacle having a top opening through which sheets may be inserted in and removed from the same, a

movable closure for said opening, a member supported above one end of the sheet receiving portion of said receptacle, a device arranged below said member and cooperating therewith to retain sheets in said receptacle, and a device supported above said member and cooperatingtherewith to grip one end of a transfer sheet and support the latter above the sheets in said receptacle.

15. A sheet holder comprising a receptacle adapted to receive a pile of sheets and having side and end walls, a relatively narrow transverse member supported on said side walls adjacent one end of said end walls, means to press one end portion of said pile of sheets against the lower surface of said transverse member, a second member cooperating with the upper surface of said transverse member to grip the end portion of a transfer sheet, and a top closure for said receptacle movable to and from said transverse member.

16. A sheet holder comprising a receptacle adapted to receive a pile of sheets and having side and end walls, a relatively narrow transverse member supported on said side Walls adjacent one of said end walls, means to press one end portion of said pile of sheets against the lower surface of said transverse member, a second member cooperating with the upper surface of said transverse member to grip the end portion of a transfer sheet, a top closure for said receptacle movable to and from said transverse member, said second member having a part extending beyond the inner edge of said transverse member to overlap the end portion of said closure when the latter is at the limit of its movement toward said transverse member.

17. A sheet holder comprising a receptacle having side and end walls, a bottom closure, and a top opening through which sheets may be inserted in and removed from the same, a relatively narrow transverse member extending inwardly from one of said end walls above and in contact with said side walls, a second transverse member -movably supported above the first mentioned member and cooperating therewith to grip one end of a transfer sheet and support the latter above the sheets in said receptacle, and a closure for said top opening slidably supported on said side walls and movable to a position to permit the free end portions of the uppermost sheet in said receptacle and said transfer sheet to be withdrawn and then to a position beneath said withdrawn sheets.

18. A sheet holder comprising a receptacle having side and end walls, a bottom closure, and a top opening through which sheets may be inserted in and removed from the same, a relatively narrow transverse member extending inwardly from one of said end walls above and in contact with said side walls, a second transverse member movably supported above the first mentioned member and cooperating therewith to grip one end of a transfer sheet and support the relation thereto, and a closure for said top opening slidably supported on said side walls and movable to a position to permit the free end portions of the uppermost sheet in said receptacle and said transfer sheet to be withdrawn, and then to a position beneath said withdrawn sheets with the forward end thereof beneath the projecting portion of said second member.

19. A sheet holder comprising a receptacle having a top opening through which record sheets may be inserted in the same and individually removed therefrom, means for removably retaining said record sheets in said receptacle, means adjacent one end of said opening to secure one end portion of a transfer sheet in a fixed position, with the free end portion thereof above the sheets in said receptacle, and a closure for latter above the sheets in said receptacle, said second member projecting beyond the inner edge of the first mentioned member when in gripping said opening extending normally above the free end portion of said transfer sheet and movable to a position beneath said transfer sheet and one of said record sheets.

20. A sheet holder comprising a receptacle adapted to receive a pile of record sheets, each sheet comprising upper and lower leaves, the lower leaf extending forwardly beyond the upper leaf, means for engaging the forward end of said pile of sheets to removably retain the same in said receptacle, means for supporting one end of a transfer sheet in a fixed position above the forward ends of said record sheets with the free end portion of said transfer sheet above said record sheets, and a closure for said receptacle movable to a supporting position beneath said transfer sheet and a record sheet the free end portion of which has been withdrawn from said receptacle.

21. A sheet holder comprising a shallow receptacle having side and end walls and a bottom closure, said receptacle having a top opening through which a pile of sheets may be inserted therein, a transverse member secured to one of said end walls and extending inwardly therefrom above the adjacent end of said pile of sheets, means for supporting said end of said pile of sheets in engagement with said transverse member, and a closure for said opening movable to a position to permit the uppermost sheet of said pile to be withdrawn from said receptacle, adjacent portions of said transverse member and said end Wall being removed to permit the end edge of said uppermost sheet to be engaged by a finger of the operator.

BRUCE K. SLONNEGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 476,353 Allred June '7, 1892 839,201 Richter Dec. 25, 1906 953,953 Inglee Apr. 5, 1910 1,117,913 Rothschild Nov. 17, 1914 1,913,190 Clark June 6, 1933 2,089,395 McIntosh Aug. 10, 1937 

